“This is your first field assignment?” Nikolas asked.
“Yes,” I answered for both of us. “We’ve been assigned to Longstone since we finished training last year.”
“I read your files. Top of your training class, and Teresa Fuller personally recommended you for this placement.”
“Thanks,” Mason and I said together.
I felt my face flush from the praise. I hadn’t known the Longstone leader had spoken to Nikolas about us. This whole day had a surreal quality to it, and I was half expecting to wake up and find myself back in my old bedroom.
“Take today to settle in, and we’ll meet tomorrow morning to discuss duties and team assignments,” Nikolas said.
We nodded, and he and Raoul went back to sparring. I would have loved to stay and watch, but Sara was already leaving. Reluctantly, I followed, tugging Mason with me.
At the end of the hallway, Sara turned to us with a knowing smile.
“He has that effect on most people. It’ll pass once you get to know him.”
Mason smiled sheepishly. “I haven’t acted that stupid since I was fourteen.”
“Was it like that for you when you met him?” I asked Sara.
Sara laughed. “Not quite. But we’ll save that story for another time. Let me show you the rest of the house.”
Leading us into a gorgeous kitchen that was a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern appliances, she pointed to a door on the other side of the room.
“The previous owner must have had a big car collection because he added on a huge garage. You can get to it through here or through the control room.”
We left the kitchen and walked through the rest of the house. Sara explained that most of the warriors working out of the command center lived at the three safe houses in the city. That way this place wasn’t too crowded.
“We have four bedrooms in here, and there is a guesthouse with two bedrooms out back. One of you can take the last room, or you can both stay in the guesthouse. It’s up to you.”
“The guesthouse will work.” I liked the idea of Mason and me having our own space.
Sara led us back to the living room and through a set of French doors to the backyard. The guesthouse was a much smaller one-story structure nestled in the trees a hundred or so feet from the house. It had a small living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom.
Mason let me have the larger bedroom, and I set my things down on the queen-size bed, eager to unpack and settle in.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Sara said from the bedroom doorway. “I’m the unofficial den mother until we get everything sorted out.”
“You don’t have to take care of us.”
She waved a hand. “I like doing it, and the others don’t complain unless I try to cook. Raoul says he’s counting down the days until Chris gets here. Apparently, my omelet skills need some work.”
The bottom fell out of my stomach. “Chris Kent?”
I mentally kicked myself for not putting it together sooner. Chris and Nikolas were best friends, and everyone knew they worked together. If Nikolas was here, then chances were Chris was around, too. My mind conjured an image of his green eyes and dimpled smile, and the old hurt pricked my chest.
“Yes. I figured you must know him since you’re both from Longstone.”
“It’s been a while,” I said a lot more casually than I felt. “So, he’s coming here, too?”
She shrugged. “He’s in Germany now, but I expect he’ll turn up here eventually. Do you know him well?”
I swallowed. “I knew him when I was younger, but I haven’t seen him in years.”
Sara smiled. “Well, maybe you’ll catch up again when he comes back.”
“Maybe.”
“Okay. I’ll get out of your hair and let you unpack.” She walked to the door and turned back to me. “Come inside when you’re done, and we’ll scrounge up some lunch.”
As soon as the front door closed, Mason entered my bedroom. The concern in his eyes told me he’d overheard our conversation.
“We don’t have to stay here.”
I fingered the strap of my duffle bag. “We can’t just pick up and leave. We asked to come here, and it’ll look bad if we change our minds after one day.”
“I don’t care about that.”
He was such a bad liar. Being a warrior meant everything to him, and like me, he wanted to make a good impression on his first assignment. And I’d seen the excitement in his eyes when he found out he’d be working with Nikolas. He’d already passed on Westhorne for me. No way was I letting him give up this opportunity.
“We’re not leaving. He might never even show up here.”
“And if he does?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Then I’ll put on my big girl panties and deal with it. It’s not the end of the world.”
Mason scowled. “He hurt you.”
“He didn’t do anything to me. He just…” Didn’t want me.
“He broke your heart.”
“That was four years ago, and I’m over it. He’s probably forgotten all about me anyway.”
I bit my lip as my chest squeezed, hating that it hurt after all this time. Why did I still care? Chris didn’t. He’d made that clear when he left and never came back.
I unzipped my duffle bag and pulled out my small toiletry case and a change of clothes.
“I’m going to shower before lunch,” I said, putting an end to the conversation.
Mason stood. “Give me your keys, and I’ll move our bikes. I want to check out the garage.”
I tossed my keys to him. “Thanks.”
Half an hour later, freshly showered and changed, I unpacked my things and hung my clothes in the closet. I smiled at my sparse wardrobe. I loved clothes, but there was only so much you could carry on a bike, and I’d give up my shoes before my Harley. Besides, now I had a good excuse to go shopping in LA.
I threw my empty bag into the closet, and a glint of silver on the bedspread caught my eye. Pressing my lips together, I stared at the silver chain for a long moment before I picked it up. I sat on the bed, letting the delicate chain wrap loosely around my fingers so the small silver dove pendant dangled from my hand.
I’d thrown the necklace into the back of my closet years ago, not wanting to look at it but unable to part with it. Seeing it now brought back memories of a time I wished I could forget – and the person who I’d thought had cared for me before he’d walked out of my life.
Of all the places in the world I could have gone, I’d chosen the command center run by Chris’s best friend. I’d lied when I told Mason I could deal with it if Chris showed up here. The truth was my stomach clenched painfully at the mere thought of seeing him again. If I had any sense of self-preservation, I’d ride away from here today and not look back.
I flopped back on the bed with a groan. This was so stupid. Why was I still letting him get to me? It wasn’t like we’d ever been together. All I’d been to Chris was the little girl he liked to indulge whenever he came to visit.
Until he never came again.
A knock came at my door, and I called for Mason to come in. His hair was damp, and he’d changed his clothes.